`False Association`

July 15, 1988|By Sol Appelbaum.

CHICAGO — I wish to object to misinformation in a recent letter to the editor of The Tribune, appearing in your July 4 edition, asserting that ``Israel has become South Africa`s best trading partner.``

This assertion is contrary to fact. The truth is that Israel is not among the largest trading partners of South Africa. Many countries, including (in order of trade volume) the U.S., West Germany, the U.K., Japan, France, Italy, Holland, Switzerland, Belgium, Sweden and Canada greatly exceed Israel`s small amount of trade with South Africa.

The question remains: Why do we constantly hear of this false association of Israel and South Africa? What is the motivation behind such untruths? Unfortunately, anti-Semitism may be the likeliest explanation.

To the overwhelming majority of American Jews (and Jews everywhere), the State of Israel and its survival are inextricably linked to the survival of the Jewish people. It is commonplace today for anti-Semites to obscure their antipathy to Jews behind a veil of anti-Israel or anti-Zionist rhetoric. Jews and all Americans of good will are not misled by such individuals.